Two new versions of works by David Flynn will be premiered during the Trad Connections tour in September.

Originally written for flautist Aisling Agnew and the composer on guitar, Ósmós do Frankie Kennedy will be heard in a new “quite different, much freer” arrangement for traditional fiddle (Liz Coleman), piano accordion (Martin Tourish) and guitar (David Flynn).

Initially composed for guitar trio, the Errigal Suite integrates “newly written tunes into traditional dance forms” and has been arranged into a version for fiddle, piano accordion and steel string guitar-doubling mandolin (Ciarán Swift) in leading roles, with two nylon string guitars (Flynn and Hugh Buckley) accompanying. The new version “opens up interpretative freedom for the performers to accommodate the natural improvisatory skills that traditional and jazz musicians have as opposed to the reliance on a written score”.

The composer says that “By opening up the music this way it perfectly demonstrates one of the main aims of the Trad Connections tour, showing how elements common to traditional music and jazz (improvisation, rhythmic swing, interpretative freedom for musicians, etc.) can blend with ideas from classical music (the written score, the larger structures of extended concert suites, contemporary composition and performance techniques, etc.)”

The tour begins on Friday 5 September in the Mermaid Arts Centre, Bray, and can also be heard in Navan’s Solstice Arts Centre on Saturday 6 September; the Glór Irish Music Centre, Ennis on Wednesday 17 September; the Dunamaise Arts Centre, Portlaoise on Friday 19 September; the Church of Ireland, Clifden, Co. Galway on Sunday 21 September; and Ionad Cois Locha, Dunlewey, Co. Donegal on Thursday 25 September. The tour concludes on Sunday 28 September at Siamsa Tíre, Tralee. All concerts begin at 8pm.

For details, see our calendar.

Posted: 27 August 2008